Article wrapping with wrapped article

Abstract: The outer surface of an article (10) is covered with a wrapping film (1), and both ends of the wrapping film (1) are lap-welded by heating, so that a body seal section (4) is created. An unbonded part (5) is formed on the periphery of the edge of an upper overlapping film of the wrapping film (1) along the marginal line of the same. This unbonded part extends between the marginal line of the upper overlapping film and the edge of the body seal section (4). A slit (6) is formed in the vicinity of the unbonded part (5) at right angles to the marginal line of the upper overlapping film. A weakly bonded part (7), where the upper overlapping film and a lower overlapping film are weakly bonded to each other, is formed to be adjacent to the opposite side of the unbonded part (5) of the body seal section (4) relative to the slit (6), and extends from that side of the unbonded part (5) to a predetermined length along a marginal line (4A) of the upper overlapping film.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates to an article wrapping in accordance with the preamble of claim 1, and more particularly to a wrapped article in such a form that a wrapping film is attached in close contact with an object to be wrapped; for example, a wrapped article which contains one or a number of objects such as a magnetic tape cassette housed in a case. Description of the Prior Art Among various types of recent commodities arranged in a shop, in the case of relatively small products having a regular shape such as a magnetic tape cassette, the product is wrapped with a transparent or translucent wrapping film coated with cellophane, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylchloride, polyvinylidenechloride, or the like, in order to protect the product from dust or moisture and so maintain a good appearance. These magnetic tape cassettes are shipped as a wrapped article or displayed in the shop as one of packages to be sold en block in which an appropriate number of goods are collectively packed. As a matter of course, when an article (a product) wrapped in this type of wrapping film is used, it is necessary to remove this wrapping film. In most cases, as shown in Figure 17, a tearing tape 2 is formed inside the wrapping film, and a constitution for facilitating the removal of the film from an article 10 is generally adopted. In other words, this tearing tape 2 allows a wrapping film 1 to be appropriately split and separated by pulling an exposed end 2a of the tape 2. Slits 3 are formed along this tearing tape in the vicinity of the exposed end 2a, thereby facilitating the removal of the tape. By means of such a constitution, the wrapping film 1 can be split along the tearing tape 2 from the end 2a. As a result of this, the wrapping film 1 is split up completely or separated in two. A wrapping method which is generally called shrink-wrap is widely used for such a wrapping film. In this shrink-wrap, when a wrapping film is attached to an article to be wrapped (i.e. a product), the product is enclosed in the wrapping film while the film is appropriately stretched or heated to a suitable temperature in accordance with the material of the film. The wrapping film is tightly attached on to the surface of the product because of a contracting action of the film, so that the product is enclosed giving it a good appearance. Such tight attachment of the film to the product involves a laborious removal action to open the film. Conventionally, several measures are taken to overcome the drawback in the prior art by, for example, forming the tearing tape as mentioned above. This tearing tape was a very effective means. However, in order to form a tearing tape inside a wrapping film, machines and processes which are dedicated to produce the tearing tape become necessary. In addition, in view of its function, the tearing tape must be sturdier than the wrapping film, and this tearing tape adds to the cost. Moreover, although it depends on the position of the tearing tape, when the tearing tape is disposed as shown in Figure 17, a smaller part "a" of the film remaining after the film has been split by the tearing tape is easy to remove. On the other hand, a larger remaining film "b" involves a very laborious removal action in order to get at the actual content. For this reason, another type of wrapping film has been put forward, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 3(1991)-32066, wherein a weakly bonded portion which is readily peeled off is formed in a body seal section where both edges of a wrapping film overlap each other and are bonded together. The part of the film that remains after the wrapping film has been torn off with a tearing tape can be readily peeled off by widely removing it from this weakly bonded part. However, the wrapping film put forward in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 3(1991)-32066 still needs the tearing tape, and hence machines and processes which are dedicated to producing a tearing tape are still necessary, thereby adding to the cost. In order to peel off the wrapping film, two steps of actions such as the tearing of the tearing tape and the removal of the weakly bonded portion are necessary, and hence the removal action of the wrapping film becomes laborious. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing observations, the primary object of this invention is to provide an article wrapping which requires neither special machines nor tearing members; and which enables easy removal of the wrapping film and access to the article enclosed in the wrapping film by widely tearing off the wrapping film with a single action when the film is opened. To this end, there is provided an article wrapping in accordance with claim 1. The slit is formed without contact with the unbonded portion and is formed at a position slightly away from the unbonded portion (preferably, the slit should be spaced 2 - 3 mm away from the unbonded portion). In one preferred mode, two opening sections, each consisting of the unbonded portion, the slit and the weakly bonded portion may be formed while the weakly bonded portions thereof are located between the unbonded portions. In this mode, the weakly bonded portions of the two opening sections may be formed apart from each other or they may together form one weakly bonded portion common to the opening sections. According the article wrapping of this invention, the unbonded portion may be provided with a mark to make it clearly distinctive. Alternatively, a mark to indicate an opening direction may be formed in the unbonded portion or in the vicinity of the same. In the article wrapping according to the present invention, the end of the unbonded portion is held with fingers or picked up with a fingernail, and this edge is pulled in a direction which is substantially orthogonal to the body seal section. Then, the wrapping film is torn up from the slit, and the weakly bonded portion of the body seal section is peeled off, whereby a split spreads in a direction which is substantially orthogonal to the body seal section. This causes the wrapping film to be widely opened to a much greater extent, and hence the film can be peeled off so that substantially the whole of a wrapped article may be considerably easily uncovered. It is much more preferable to create two opening sections, each consisting of the unbonded portion, the slit and the weakly bonded portion, in such a way that the weakly bonded portions thereof are located between the unbonded portions, whereby the wrapping film can be opened from either of the unbonded portions. Moreover, in the inner overlapping end or layer of the wrapping film, a notch is also created in the vicinity of a position where an imaginary continuation from the slit and the said inner end cross each other. Thereby, after the outer overlapping end or layer of the wrapping film has been peeled off, the wrapping film can be opened much wider by peeling the inner layer from the notch, whereby the wrapping film can be peeled off much easier. Further, marks are provided to make clearly distinctive the position of the unbonded portion and a peeling direction, and hence the position from which the wrapping film is peeled off is made clear, thereby rendering the wrapping film more preferable. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is schematic representation of a wrapped article according to a first embodiment of this invention; Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the wrapped article shown in Figure 1 when an outer layer of a body seal section is raised; Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the wrapped article shown in Figure 1 when the outer layer is pulled further; Figure 4 is a schematic representation of the wrapped article shown in Figure 1 when the outer layer is pulled to a much greater extent; Figure 5 is a schematic representation of a wrapped article according to a second embodiment of this invention; Figure 6 is a schematic representation of a wrapped article according to a third embodiment of this invention; Figure 7 is a schematic representation of a wrapped article according to a fourth embodiment of this invention; Figure 8 is a schematic representation of the wrapped article shown in Figure 7 when an outer layer of a body seal section is raised; Figure 9 is a schematic representation of the wrapped article shown in Figure 7 when the outer layer and a inner layer of the body seal section are raised; Figure 10 is a schematic representation showing a slit and a notch formed in the wrapping film; Figure 11 is a schematic representation showing another embodiment of the slit and the notch formed in the wrapping film; Figure 12 is a schematic representation showing still another embodiment of the slit and the notch; Figure 13 is a schematic representation showing an article wrapping of the present invention in which an unbonded portion and a slit are provided with a mark; Figure 14 is a schematic representation showing the article wrapping of the present invention when it is applied to a video cassette; Figure 15 is a schematic representation showing another embodiment of a weakly bonded portion; Figure 16 is a schematic representation showing still another embodiment of the weakly bonded portion; and Figure 17 is a schematic representation showing a conventional article wrapping. Description of the Preferred Embodiments With reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described. First Embodiment: Figure 1 is a schematic representation showing an article wrapping according to a first embodiment of the present invention in which a video cassette is wrapped. As shown in Figure 1, side edges of a wrapping film 1 are overlapped at substantially the center of a narrower side surface of a rectangular parallelepiped wrapped article 10, and heated and welded together to constitute a body seal section 4 (this body seal section will be herein designated by a slanting line). Both ends of the body seal section 4 are welded together with the other sides of the film so as to reach a side seal section 13. The body seal section 4 and the side seal section 13 where the both ends of the wrapping film 1 overlap with each other are welded by appropriate heating after the article 10 has been wrapped. An unbonded portion 5 is formed on the periphery of the body seal section 4, i.e. partially along a marginal line 4A of the outer overlapping end or layer of the wrapping film 1 at least between the marginal line 4A and a marginal line 1B of an inner overlapping end of the wrapping film 1. Here, as a matter of course, the unbonded portion 5 may be formed over the whole area between the edges 4A and 4B of the body seal section 4 as shown in Figure 1. The length of the unbonded portion 5 along the marginal line 4A should preferably be set to 10 to 50 mm but most preferably be set to 20 mm or thereabouts. The unbonded portion 5 can be formed by printing, in ink which prevents heat sealing, an area of the back surface of the upper overlapping film 1 which corresponds to the unbonded portion 5. At least one slit 6 is formed at right angles to the marginal line 4A of the outer overlapping end of the film 1 in the vicinity of the unbonded portion 5. The slit 6 should preferably be spaced 2 - 3 mm apart from the edge of the unbonded portion 5 that is nearest to the slit. A weakly bonded portion 7, where the outer overlapping end is weakly bonded to the inner overlapping end, is formed on the opposite side of the unbonded portion 5 relative to the slit 6, and extends to a predetermined length along the marginal line 4A of the outer overlapping end of the film 1. Concerning the weakly bonded portion 7, the rear of the area corresponding to the weakly bonded portion 7 of the film 1 is printed in ink into half-tone dots or a matrix pattern, and the presence of the ink in the dots or the matrix pattern prevents the body seal section 4 from being entirely welded, whereby the weakly bonded portion is produced. In this way, the weakly bonded portion 7 is formed by making bonded areas, where the wrapping film ends are bonded together, and unbonded areas mix with each other. However, it is not necessary to evenly mix the bonded areas with the unbonded areas. For example, as shown in Figure 15, the density of bonded areas (black areas) within the weakly bonded portion 7 along the marginal line 4A may be gradually varied. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 16, an area close to the marginal line 4A of the outer overlapping area of the wrapping film 1 of the weakly bonded portion 7 may be formed into a stripe pattern which is not to be bonded, and bonded areas and unbonded areas may be present over the whole of the weakly bonded portion 7. Also, the weakly bonded portion 7 can be created by printing an area of the wrapping film 1 corresponding to the weakly bonded portion 7 in ink having a weak blocking tendency. The way the article wrapping of the present invention is peeled off will now be described. Initially, the end of the unbonded portion 5 is held with fingers or picked up with a fingernail or the like, and the fingers are moved in the direction of an arrow A as shown in Figure 1. Thereby, as shown in Figure 2, the outer overlapping end of the film 1 within the body seal section 4 between the unbonded portion 5 and the slit 6 is lifted off from the inner overlapping end of the film 1. Then, as shown in Figure 3, when the corner 4a of the outer overlapping end of the film 1 thus peeled off is pulled in the A direction, a split developing from the slit 6 spreads; a portion of the weakly bonded portion 7 is peeled off; and the outer overlapping end of the film 1 is raised from the inner overlapping end of the film 1. Further pulling the corner 4a of the outer overlapping end of the film 1 in the A direction causes the split from the slit 6 to extend much wider, so that the weakly bonded portion 7 is also peeled off much wider. When the corner 4a of the outer overlapping end of the film 1 thus peeled is pulled in the A direction, the wrapping film 1 is widely opened as shown in Figure 4. The split formed by such tearing actions can be caused so that it might continue around the wrapping film 1 by pulling and tearing the corner 4a of the outer overlapping end of the film 1. Thereby, the wrapping film 1 is widely opened, and hence the film 1 can be peeled off in such a way that substantially the whole of the wrapped article 10 is extremely easily uncovered. The slit 6 is created in the vicinity of the surface on which the side seal section 13 of the wrapped article 10 is formed. Therefore, a part of the wrapping film 1 remaining on the surface on which the side seal section 13 is formed can be easily taken off by pulling the remaining wrapping film in the direction in which it is removed. In a conventional article wrapping, when the wrapping film is separated into two by a tearing tape, it is relatively difficult for a user to take off that one of the two subdivisions which is left in a direction opposite to the direction of the tearing of the wrapping film. Compared with this, the article wrapping of this invention allows effective removal operation by a single action, and eliminates the necessity to use the tearing tape, thereby rendering this article wrapping very cost effective. Second Embodiment: An article wrapping according to a second embodiment of the present invention will now be described. Figure 5 shows an aritcle wrapping of this embodiment. In Figure 5, a wrapped state of the wrapping film 1, the unbonded portion 5, the slit 6 and the weakly bonded portion 7 are the same as those of the first embodiment, and hence the explanation thereof will be omitted here for brevity. In this embodiment, a first opening section consisting of the unbonded portion 5, the slit 6 and the weakly bonded portion 7 and a second opening section consisting of an unbonded portion 5', a slit 6' and a weakly bonded portion 7' are formed while the weakly bonded portions 7 and 7' being located between the unbonded portions 5,5'. In this way, the use of the first opening section consisting of the unbonded portion 5, the slit 6 and the weakly bonded portion 7 and the second opening section consisting of the unbonded portion 5', the slit 6' and the weakly bonded portion 7' allows a user to open the wrapping film 1 from either the unbonded portion 5 or the unbonded portion 5', and hence the wrapping film 1 can be opened more easily. Third Embodiment: Although, in the second embodiment, the first and second opening sections are separately formed, the weakly bonded portions 7 and 7'can be made common to both opening sections as they are exemplified in a third embodiment shown in Figure 6. Thus, as compared with the second embodiment, the labor required for removing the bonded areas of the weakly bonded portions 7 and 7' can be obviated by making the weakly bonded portions 7 and 7' common in the manner as mentioned above, thereby rendering the article wrapping more preferable. Fourth Embodiment: An article wrapping according to a fourth embodiment of this invention will now be described. Figure 7 shows an article wrapping of this embodiment. In Figure 7, a wrapped state of the wrapping film 1, the unbonded portion 5, the slit 6 and the weakly bonded portion 7 are the same as those shown in the first, second and third embodiments, and hence the explanation thereof will be omitted here for brevity. In this embodiment, a notch 8 is also formed in the vicinity of the area where the marginal line 1B of the inner overlapping end of the wrapping film 1 and an imaginary continuation from the slit 6 cross each other. The way the wrapping of this embodiment is peeled off will now be described. Initially, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, the corner of the unbonded portion 5 is held with fingers or picked up with a fingernail or the like, and the fingers are moved to the direction A as shown in Figure 7. This causes the wrapping film 1 to split from the slit 6 as shown in Figure 8, and the split from the slit 6 spreads, and hence a portion of the weakly bonded portion 7 is peeled off, so that the wrapping film 1 is widely opened. The split caused by such a tearing action can continue around the wrapping film 1 by pulling the corner 4a of the upper overlapping film of the wrapping film 1 in the same fashion as in the first embodiment, whereby the wrapping film is torn up. Thus, the wrapping film 1 is widely opened. Also, in the fourth embodiment, an corner 1b of the inner overlapping end of the wrapping film 1 in the vicinity of the notch 8 formed in the inner overlapping end is picked up and pulled in the direction of an arrow B, and the wrapping film 1 is peeled off from the notch 8 as shown in Figure 9. This causes the wrapping film 1 to be widely opened in the opposite direction relative to the direction in which the outer overlapping end of the wrapping film 1 is opened, thereby leading to the wrapping film 1 being opened much wider. Thus, the film 1 can be peeled off so that substantially the whole of the wrapped article 10 may be considerably easily uncovered. The slit 6 is created in the vicinity of the surface of the wrapped article 10 on which the side seal section 13 is formed, and hence a part of the wrapping film 1 remaining on the same surface where the side seal section 13 is formed can be very easily removed by pulling that remaining part of the film in such a direction that it is taken off. In the fourth embodiment of this invention, although the notch 8 is formed in the inner overlapping end of the wrapping film 1, it may be formed, in the second and third embodiments, in the vicinity of the area on the inner overlapping end where the marginal line of the inner overlapping end and an imaginary continuation from the slit cross each other. The slit and notch of the article wrapping according to the fourth embodiment may be formed before or after the wrapping of the article to be wrapped 10. However, it is preferred to form the slit and the notch before wrapping, thereby removing the risk of damage to the article by a cutting knife or the like. When the slit and the notch are previously created, the slit and the notch should be created so as to traverse broken lines of the wrapping film 1 along which the film can be separated as shown in Figure 10. Thereby, the slit and the notch can be simultaneously formed. The slit and the notch are linearly formed in the previous embodiments, but the slit 6 and the notch 8 may be formed, for example, in a V-shape as shown in Figure 12, thereby facilitating the picking up of the film. The shape of the slit and notch can be applied to the second, third and fourth embodiments. In order to make distinctive the position of the unbonded portion and a tearing direction, the wrapping film may be provided with, for example, a mark 20 such as an arrow as shown in Figure 13. Moreover, to make the position of the unbonded portion distinguished, the unbonded portion may be made different in color from the other portion. In the foregoing embodiments, the article to be wrapped is an audio cassette, but the article wrapping of this invention can be applied to, for example, a video cassette as shown in Figure 14, in which the body seal section 4 is formed in a wider surface of the rectangular-parallelepiped cassette. Also, in the previous embodiment, an audio cassette and a video cassette or the like are used as the wrapped article, but the wrapped article is not limited to them. The article wrapping of this invention can be applied to articles in any shapes such as a sphere, a rectangular parallelepiped, a column, or a circular cone so long as it can be wrapped with a wrapping film. In the previous embodiments, the weakly bonded portion 7 is made by evenly mixing together the unbonded areas and the bonded areas. However, for example as shown in Figure 16, the bonded areas (designated by black points) and the unbonded areas within the unbonded portion 7 can be formed by making them exist at all areas. As mentioned above, according to the article wrapping of the present invention, the unbonded portion, the slit and the weakly bonded portion are created in the body seal section without the use of a tearing tape, and hence the wrapping film can be widely torn up from the body seal section when the film is opened. Hence, the wrapping film is not completely separated into pieces while they still remain tightly attached to an article to be wrapped, which is common in opening the film by the use of a conventional tearing tape. Thus, the wrapping film can be peeled off in such a way that the wrapped article is easily uncovered by a single opening action. Moreover, the article wrapping of this invention yields several advantages; namely, a process for providing a tearing tape can be omitted, and also a tearing tape itself becomes unnecessary, whereby material costs can be reduced.

Claims: An article wrapping with an article (10) whose outer surface is covered with a wrapping film (1) having a body seal section (4) created by making ends of the wrapping film (1) overlap with each other and bonding them together, a portion (7,7') of the body seal section being weakly bonded, characterised by an unbonded portion (5,5') formed along the periphery (4A) of an outer overlapping end or layer of the wrapping film in such a way that the unbonded portion of the outer overlapping end is not adhered to the inner overlapping end or layer of the wrapping film; a slit (6) formed in the outer overlapping end in a bonded portion in the vicinity of the unbonded portion (5,5') at right angles or at an inclined angle to the edge (4A) of the outer overlapping end; and the weakly bonded portion (7,7') extending from the opposite side of the unbonded portion relative to the slit to a predetermined length along the periphery of the outer overlapping end. An article wrapping as defined in Claim 1, wherein two opening sections, each including the unbonded portion, the slit (6) and the weakly bonded portion, are arranged such that the weakly bonded portions are located between the unbonded portions (5,5'). An article wrapping as defined in Claims 1 or 2, further comprising a notch (8) that is further provided in the inner overlapping layer in the vicinity of the position where the marginal line (1B) of the inner overlapping end and an imaginary continuation from the slit (6) cross each other. An article wrapping as defined in any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the unbonded portion is provided with a mark (20) to make it distinctive. An article wrapping as defined in any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein a mark is provided in the unbonded portion or in the vicinity of the unbonded portion to indicate an opening direction.

Inventors: ARAMAKI SATOSHI, OSE TAKAYOSHI, SATO MAKOTO, ARAMAKI, SATOSHI, OSE, TAKAYOSHI, SATO, MAKOTO
Applicants: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO LTD, FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: B65D75
IPC codes: B65D75, B65D77, B65D65